Phase 2 · Living and working there

Driving in the Gulf as a newcomer

In the Gulf, most people get around by car. Public transport is improving, but the car is still how daily life works. Here is how to get started safely.

By Shiraz Hussein · Updated October 2026

Then and now

When I first arrived, driving in Doha was chaotic, and at times dangerous. Drivers came from many countries, with very different training and habits, and some very fast cars.

It is much better now. There is better driver education, more rules, many speed cameras and serious fines. The roads themselves are new and well designed. Still, drive with care, like you would anywhere new. Take extra care if you are not used to driving on the right. Unpaid fines can stop you leaving the country. Read Clear your debts before you resign.

New to driving on the right? Take taxis first

If you have only driven on the left, don't make your first drive a rush-hour commute.

1. Use taxis for the first week or two.
2. From the passenger seat, watch how the roundabouts work, how people use the lanes and where cars merge.
3. Notice the road layout. It follows an American style: wide roads, big junctions and fast slip roads. If you have played Grand Theft Auto, you may feel at home!

A couple of weeks of watching builds road sense that no licence test teaches. And it costs less than an insurance excess.

Find your way by landmarks

Gulf cities grew very fast, and people often give directions by landmarks: the mosque, the roundabout with the sculpture, the mall, the tower.

• Learn the main landmarks on your regular routes.
• Use a map app. Google Maps and Apple Maps work, but many drivers in the Gulf find Waze more accurate for closures, cameras and traffic.
• Learn the app before you drive. Set it up, try it as a passenger on routes you know, and turn on voice directions.

Sort your licence before you fly

• Get an International Driving Permit before you leave the UK. It costs about £5 at the Post Office.
• In Qatar, a UK licence on its own covers you for only seven days after you arrive. With the permit, visitors can drive for up to six months. Once you have your residence permit, change to a Qatari licence soon.
• Later, UK licence holders can usually change to a local licence without a driving test.

The full details, including hire car insurance and buying or renting a car, are in The first 90 days in Doha.

Licence rules differ by country and change. Check the official sources for your country before you drive. Your licence, car registration and insurance all renew on a schedule. See Everything renews: the Gulf admin calendar.

Budgeting for a car? Add fuel, insurance and parking to the salary calculator.